Banana-crate.



PATBNTED .TUNE 16, 1908.

M. LOMBARDO.

BANANA GRATE.

AP-PLIoAjIoN FILED MAR. 27, 1907.

W/TNES E A fr0/NE ys rn: NaRR/s PETERS cs.. wAsnmcroN, n. c.

MICHELE LOMBARDO, OF MASON OITY, IOWA.

BANANA-CRATE Specification of Letters Patent.

atentea Juneic, 190s.

Application filed March 27, 1907. Serial No. 364,884.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, MICHELE LOMBARDO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mason Oity, in the county of Oerro Gordo and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Banana-Crate, of which' the following is a specification` This invention relates to crates of that character designed for use in shipping bananas and it is more especially an improvement on the device described and claimed by me in Patent No. 776,666, dated Dec. 6, 1904.

The object of the invention is to provide a protecting envelop which will prevent the crate from contacting with and being bruised by the frame of the crate, said envelo having simple and efficient means where y the same may be maintained taut under all conditions.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred forms of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the crate.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, A is a frame formed of any suitable material, preferably of wood and consists of a series of hoops l having longitudinal members or strips 2 secured by nails or in any other preferred manner upon the outer faces of the inner hoops l and upon the inner faces of the end hoops. A metallic ring 3 preferably of spring wire is disposed around the middle portions of the strips and exerts a constant inward pressure upon said strips.

The inner protecting case or envelop B of the crate is tubular in form and preferably made of burlap or other appropriate material. The body 4 of the envelop is formed at the center with radiating loops or wings 5 which extend between the strips 2 and surround the ring 3. These loops may be formed by constructing the body of two tubular sections sewed together as at 6 and with their end portions slit and sewed together as at 7. Obviously with this -arrangement the body will be kept taut at the center and sagging of the central portion of the body under the weight of the fruit when the crate is upon its side is prevented and therefore injury to the fruit which may result from such a cause is obviated. Each end portion of the body B is enlarged as shown at 8 to form a mouth and these end portions are looped and secured around retaining bands or hoops 9 which are secured within the ends of the frame A by means of nails, screws or other suitable devices. Tubular extensions or closures l0 are suitably attached to the body adjacent the inner ends ofthe enlarged portion 8 and constitute, in eiect, continuations of the body and are adapted when tied or otherwise secured at their outer ends to retain the fruit within the envelop as will be apparent from inspection of Fig. 2.

(Jonsiderable importance is attached in the present case to the provision of the radial Wings 5 which engage the ring 3. The tensioned strips 2 exert a constant outward pressure upon the frame and therefore the centrall portion of the envelop is maintained constantly taut. Although it has been stated that the body and wings may be formed by sewing together two envelop sec tions it is to be understood that the entire body may be woven into proper shape and in a single iece.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. A crate comprising a frame, a tubular envelop secured within the frame and having its intermediate portion spaced therefrom, said envelop consisting of connected similar sections each of said sections having wings integral therewith and radiating therefrom, the corresponding wings of the two sections being connected at their ends to form loo s, and means upon the frame for engaging t 1e loops and holding said loops taut.

2. A crate comprising a frame consisting of connected longitudinal spring members, a ring loosely surrounding said members, a tubular envelop within and secured to the ends ofthe frame, said envelop consisting of similar tubular sections connected at their ends, the end of each of said sections having integral wings radiating therefrom, the corresponding Wings of the sections being connected to form loops, said loops engaging and held taut by the ring.

3. A crate comprising a frame consisting of connected longitudinal spring members, a ring loosely surrounding the middle portions of said members, a tubular envelop within and secured to the ends of the frame, said envelop consisting of similar tubular sections having longitudinal slits in their adjoining to the longitudinal aXis of the envelop by the lo end portions, said sections being secured toring.

gether adjacent the inner ends of the slits, In testimony that I claim the foregoing as the slit portions of the sections constituting my oWn, I have hereto affixed my signature Wings integral with the sections and radiin the presence of two Witnesses.

ating therefrom, 'the corresponding Wings of MICHELE LOMBARDO. the two sections being connected at their Witnesses:

outer ends to form loops, said loops eXtend- EMMA H. CLARK,

ing around and held taut and perpendicular JAMES C. BUCHANAN. 

